No doubt about it, Blackhawks' Alex DeBrincat prepared to prove himself all over again

There was so much evidence Alex DeBrincat was capable of starring in the NHL it’s hard to believe so many doubters once existed.

Any player who scores more than 100 points in three straight seasons in the Ontario Hockey League should be a first-round pick — and a high one at that. But the numbers DeBrincat put up were deemed secondary to his height — 5-foot-7 — and that his teammates with the OHL’s Erie Otters were Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome, who were taken first and third, respectively, in the 2015 NHL draft.

The Blackhawks didn't have a first-rounder in 2016 and didn’t doubt they were making the right move when they scooped up DeBrincat with the 39th pick.

“I believed in myself and thought I could play at (this) level,” DeBrincat said. “And hopefully I proved to everyone that I can.”

If there are still any doubters, they’re awfully quiet now. DeBrincat scored a team-high 28 goals and played in all 82 games as a rookie in 2017-18, one of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the Hawks.

DeBrincat wasn’t immune to the inconsistency that can plague even the most veteran of scorers. He had four goal-scoring droughts of at least seven games, including one that lasted 13 games before snapping it with his third hat trick.

Becoming more consistent is a goal, but DeBrincat doesn't think in terms of numbers.

“With team success comes individual success,” he said. “It will just trickle down the whole lineup at that point. When the team’s doing well, everything’s rolling. That’s a good way to measure it.”

DeBrincat is playing on the Hawks’ top line with Jonathan Toews and Chris Kunitz, which means more nights facing the opponent’s top line.

“To be the best you have to play against the best,” he said. “It’s a good challenge for me. I think I only saw it a little bit last year. I’m ready for this year.”

Seems like old times: Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook both made their NHL debuts on Oct. 5, 2005, and since have spent thousands of minutes playing together. They likely will rack up even more ice time this season with coach Joel Quenneville deciding to pair them together during training camp.

At 35, Keith still can use his extraordinary leg strength to chase down pucks and prevent scoring chances. He relishes the idea of playing alongside Seabrook, who is two years younger.

“Brent’s always a guy (who) knows where to be and he makes a great first pass,” Keith said. “His passes are flat, which makes a big difference when you’re trying to handle the puck. It’s on your tape and makes everyone’s game that much easier. He’s always helped my game out.”

Hot start, cold finish: It took a mere 53 seconds for the Hawks to get on the board in their preseason opener Tuesday night in Columbus, Ohio, but they failed to muster any other offense in a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Artem Anisimov and Marcus Kruger made the trip, but the majority of the roster consisted of young players not expected to make the team, including 2018 first-round pick Adam Boqvist who made his debut in a Hawks uniform. Henri Jokiharju led the Hawks with 23 minutes, 3 seconds of ice time.

Goalies Cam Ward (13 saves) and Collin Delia (14 saves) split time in net with each allowing a pair of goals. The Hawks were outshot 31-22.